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Wildflower-rich meadows are an important and
attractive feature of the landscape in Gwent. However
the decline in these meadows has become a significant
threat to the wildlife that relies on them. To thrive
meadows require special management relying on centuries
old traditional practices.
Meadows need to be
managed…...
If left alone meadows will eventually turn
to scrub and then woodland. Meadows require regular
management to maintain their character and encourage
species diversity. The timing and extent of management
practices, for example grazing, light poaching by stock
and cutting, will determine how much the grassland sward
is opened up. This is important for the reseeding,
germination and growth of wildflowers and will help
control the growth of coarse, vigorous grasses which may
out compete wildflowers and dominate a site.
The
previous management of a site is important when
considering its future management. Consistent management
year on year will support the continuity of wildflowers.
Traditionally, old grasslands were managed in two
main ways supporting two important types of wildflower
community; Meadow and Pasture :-
Traditional Hay Meadow
Management
Meadows are managed by making hay in late
July and grazing the aftermath in the autumn. The
following spring the fields are shut up again for hay.
Grazing after the hay cut helps to keep coarse,
palatable grasses in check and light trampling creates
pockets of bare soil for seed germination. However stock
should be removed if conditions become wet and
unfavourable. Meadows support mainly spring and early
summer flowering perennials and also annuals that drop
their seed prior to the hay cut.
Traditional Pasture
Management
This involves lightly grazing the field in
spring and summer by sheep or cattle year after year.
Grazing levels should be adjusted to enable a variety of
sward heights to develop from short to slightly tussocky
and for some flowering and seed setting to take place.
Overgrazing should be avoided to prevent too much bare
ground which is easily colonized by weedy species such
as docks and nettles, and undergrazing may lead to
dominance by coarse grasses and scrub.
Pastures support
mainly summer flowering perennials but are also
beneficial to breeding and over wintering insects
because unlike meadows there is a continuity of
vegetation through the year. Pasture can also support
some nesting and feeding birds.
Lighter, later and
or/less frequent grazing will benefit insects, whilst
heavier grazing in autumn/winter can benefit wildflower
diversity more. No fertilisers should be used, which
will increase soil fertility and encourage the out
competition of wildflowers by vigorous coarse grasses
and weedy species.
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Example Traditional Management
Regimes:
Hay Meadow:
January-February - Light grazing on
any new growth (optional). |
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Early March - Remove grazing
before annuals germinate in the first mild conditions.
Harrow if necessary.
April-mid July - No grazing. Take the
hay cut once the annual wildflowers have seeded (mid
July/August).
Late September-end December - Main grazing
period with a moderate stock density. Remove before
December if a wet Autumn.
Pasture:
January-February -
Remove grazing. March Light grazing only on new growth
(optional). Consider if the grassland contains annuals
such as yellow rattle germinating at this time.
April-mid July - Very light or no grazing.
Mid July-end
December - Main grazing period, with light grazing over a
long period to help create varied sward height.
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